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$100K Wayside Exhibit project completed
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Posted on Jun 04 2004
History buffs now have a new way of learning more about the World War II battle on Saipan after the completion of the Wayside Exhibit project, which features the construction of panels that depict the bloody battle.
The construction and placing of 12 panels were completed in time for the upcoming 60th Commemoration of the battle.
The task, dubbed as the Wayside Exhibit Project, was funded by the U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service, costing about $100,000.
According to Mark W. Johnson NPS, the project was geared toward providing interpretive signs in key locations throughout the island that depict various events that occurred during the war.
“They are to help people, especially those not from here, to understand the story about a particular view and what went on in the past at the place they’re looking at,” he said during an interview Tuesday morning at Mount Tapotchao.
Five of the exhibit panels were installed at Mount Tapotchao. Two panels were also placed at the Isley Airfield and along Beach Road. Other areas include Agingan Point, the Banzai area, and the parking lot of the Mt. Carmel Cathedral.
Johnson said the project initially included the placing of panels on Tinian, but due to budget and time constraint, was limited to sites on Saipan only.
“[Because] of the upcoming 60th Commemoration, we had to push the gas pedal on the project. If we were to do this project on a battlefield in the mainland, the time span would pretty much be between 14 and 30 months. I’m just glad we completed these panels with time to spare.”
